[NTLUG:Discuss] kernel sees CDROM on /dev/hdc during bootup, but can't mount it..

[Stephen Klein]

Hmmm, that's unusual.  Could be a bug in the setup script that just
doesn't like your CDROM drive.  I'm not sure it will work any different,
but you could create boot and root disks (floppies) from the install cd
and try using that.

Better instructions can be found on the install CD, but I can give you a
basic overview.

There is a program called 'view.exe' on the install CD, although I've
never used it, which is supposed to help you choose and create your boot
and root disks.  I am certain that bare.i is your best choice for a boot
disk, and color.gz for your root disk.

After you've created your boot and root disks, insert the boot disk into
the floppy drive and restart the machine.  Make sure that the install CD
isn't in the CDROM drive yet (or set your BIOS to NOT boot from the
CDROM), otherwise it will try to boot from the CD and you will just be
starting over.  When prompted, just press [ENTER] to continue booting. 
The kernel should load and start checking your hardware.  After a while,
you will get a message to insert your root disk, after you've inserted
the root disk in the floppy drive, press [ENTER] and the system should
continue to boot.  After a while you should get a login, login as root
and continue setting up just like you had when you booted from the
CDROM.


I hope this works for you.  If it still won't setup the CDROM, you could
try using a different CDROM drive (prefferable differnt brands).

The last ditch route for Slackware, is to grab a bunch of floppies and
copy each of the directories under /slakware on the install CD to it's
own floppy disk (A and N series only).  I've gone this route before,
it's really time consuming, but it will allow you to get a working
system going and then try to finish the install from there.

Stephen

Richard Geoffrion wrote:
> 
> From: "Stephen Klein" <jaguar at imagin.net>
> 
> > As far as I know, Slackware still uses the old static /dev filesystem,
> > instead of the new dynamic system that the 2.4 kernel is supposed to
> > support.  It sounds like that for some reason all of these files did not
> > get installed.
> 
> This is a fresh install. There is nothing on the hard drive.  I can't GET
> anything on the hard drive if I can't do the install
> 
> >
> > Maybe I can help you fix it.  Since you just installed it, I would
> > recommend that you just reboot off of the CDROM and reinstall,
> 
> I'm booting off of the Slack 7.1 install.iso CD.
> 
> >  making sure to select the 'devs' package in the 'A' series (base system
> > packages).
> >
> >
> > If you don't want to reinstall, you can try this:
> >
> > Run 'setup' from the command line.  Once you've selected your source
> > (install CDROM).
> 

> See ..that is just the problem...I CAN'T select my source!  it fails.
> 
> so now what?
> 
> > Stephen Klein
> >
> > Richard Geoffrion wrote:
> > >
> > > During installation (of Slackware 7.1) the computer is able to boot off
> of
> > > the CDROM drive, and successfully scan the /dev/hdc  EIDE CDROM drive
> during
> > > the kernel load, but when it comes time to mount the drive I get the
> error
> > > message:
> > >
> > > mount: special device /dev/hdc does not exist
> > >
> > > A quick look in  /dev shows only
> > >
> > > /dev/hda
> > > /dev/hda1
> > > and
> > > /dev/hda2
> > >
> > > I have tried the CDROM as Pri/Slave, Sec/Master, and even Sec/Slave but
> > > nothing works.
> > >
> > > What is next?
> > >
> > > Slackware 7.1 on a Pentium 200 with a 2 gig IDE drive and an EIDE ATAPI
> > > CDROM drive.
> > >
> > > HELP !!!
> > >
> >
> > http://www.ntlug.org/mailman/listinfo/discuss
> >
> 
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